Dust Mites

Dust mites are one of the most common causes of allergies. These microscopic insects live all around us and feed on the millions of dead skin cells that fall off our bodies every day. Dust mites make up the primary allergic component of house dust, which is a combination of numerous particles and can contain such things as fabric fibers and bacteria, as well as microscopic animal allergens. Present year-round in most parts of the United States (although they don't live at high altitudes), dust mites thrive in bedding, upholstery, and carpets.

So what does this have to do with asthma? Let's explain.

Asthma is a chronic lung condition, characterized by difficulty in breathing due to extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways. During an asthma attack, the airways become irritated and react by narrowing and constructing, causing increased resistance to airflow, and obstructing the flow of air to and from the lungs. Common early warning signs of asthma include fatigue, coughing (especially at night), wheezing, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, runny nose, and itchy throat.

Allergies, on the other hand, are immune system reactions to things that most people would experience as harmless. Certain foods, dust, pollen ... these are allergens that can trigger an allergy attack. When they're encountered, the body's immune system produces IgE antibodies to fight the allergen. These antibodies create the release of chemicals into the bloodstream, one of which (histamine) affects the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and skin, causing the allergy's symptoms.

Exposure to indoor allergens (dust mites), pollen, animal dander, grass ... in other words, allergy-related factors, are often found in asthmatics. Not always, but often enough that it appears allergens can often contribute to an asthma attack. For this reason, if you're asthmatic, you'll want to keep close tabs on your indoor allergens such as dust mites.

To reduce your explosure to dust mite allergens:

• Remove carpets and keep upholstered furniture to a minimum.
• If you keep carpets and upholstered furniture in the home, regular use of Allersearch/ADS Spray, a tannic acid solution breaks down dust mite allergens, pollen allergens, mold spores and animal dander.
• Allersearch X-Mite, a moist powder, can be brushed into carpets, allow to dry for three hours, and then vacuumed. X-Mite safely deactivates allergens created by dust mites, pets and certain pollens. At the same time, X-Mite cleans and refreshes velvet, velour, corduroy, carpets and other textiles. Frequent cleaning is important-dust mites constantly produce the fecal matter that causes allergic reactions.
• Use Taskmaster's Pristine brand products to encase your mattress, box springs and pillows in allergy-free, washable zippered encasings. Use a Taskmaster air purifier to control odors, dust, pollen, mold, animal dander, as well as some bacteria. Use Taskmaster Healthmate, Taskmaster Pleat-A-Static, and Allergen Reduction filters.
• Use a Taskmaster, Panasonic, Delonghi, or Lightning Air in the bedroom of the allergy sufferer.
• Hang clothes in your closet and shut the door, or put them in dresser drawers.
• Wash all bedding with Allersearch Wash Detergent in hot water to reduce the dust mite population.
• Keep pets out of the bedroom; they are a popular feeding source for dust mite allergens.
• Cooler nighttime temperatures (between 68 and 72 degrees) promote better sleep for the allergic individual.

While thriving in your bedding, upholstery, and carpets, dust mites have proven to be one of the most common causes of allergies. Yet their affect on your asthma and allergies can be minimized. Just by following a few simple steps, you can make the interior of your house much less asthma and allergy friendly.

 At A Glance

• Exposure to indoor allergens (dust mites), pollen, animal dander, grass ... in other words, allergy-related factors, are often found in asthmatics.
• Allersearch X-Mite, a moist powder, can be brushed into carpets, allow to dry for three hours, and then vacuumed.
• While thriving in your bedding, upholstery, and carpets, dust mites have proven to be one of the most common causes of allergies.